Case Studies

Chiropractic Kids Have an Advantage

In one study, Van Breda et al [1] interviewed 200 pediatricians and 200 chiropractors, to determine what, if any, differences were to be found in the health status of their respective children, because their families were being raised with 2 very different health care models.

The authors found that:

There is a “definite correlation between chiropractic care and superior health.”

69% of the chiropractic children never experienced otitis media [ear infections], compared to 80% of medical children who did. That is a reduction of 258% between groups!

There is a significant decreased history of antibiotic use among the chiropractic children, “indicating a lower susceptibility to bacterial infections as a result of greater immune system response.”

Bringing Kids and chiropractic into Focus

“You’ve probably heard that it’s far easier to raise a healthy child than it is to fix a broken adult. Well, chiropractic care has been shown to do just that. Relief from newborn jaundice, bedwetting, attention problems, asthma, allergies, colic, fussy feeding and chronic constipation are just some of the benefits that thousands of children have experienced through routine chiropractic care. But what really impacts their lives – and yours – are the benefits their entire family tree will enjoy for generations.

You see, healthy children are more likely to grow up to be active and healthy adults, producing children of their own with their same level of attention to well-being. This is the ripple effect of chiropractic care.” – Dr. H

Low Back Pain – Best Results from Chiropractic

Another more recent study was conducted by researchers at the University of Massachusetts at United BioSource Corporation, London, United Kingdom. [2]

Their objective was to compare the occurrences of repeated disability episodes between different types of health care providers, who treat people with new episodes of work-related low back pain (LBP). They followed 894 patients over 1-year, using workers’ compensation claims data.

The results are quite interesting:
Statistically, you are TWICE as likely to end up with a disabling recurrence of Low Back Pain if you got your care from a Physical Therapist (PT), rather than from a chiropractor.

And, you are also 60% more likely to end up with a disabling recurrence of Low Back Pain if you chose a Physician (MD) to manage your care, rather than a chiropractor.
The authors concluded that:

“In work-related nonspecific LBP, the use of health maintenance care provided by physical therapist or physician services was associated with a higher disability recurrence than with chiropractic services.”

Bringing Back Pain into Focus

“Nearly 80 percent of people will have complaints of low back pain at some point. What’s more troubling is the fact that nearly everyone will see that as an event – an isolated incident that just struck them down one day. Truth be told, whatever caused that episode of back pain was the last event in a series of events that have been weakening the system and making it more susceptible to damage. You can improve your body and reduce your risk of symptoms by promoting a healthy spine & nerve system through regular chiropractic care.” – Dr.H

Lowered Blood Pressure from Chiropractic Adjustments

A study was conducted by Dr Marshall Dickholtz, et al and the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA)

A one-time chiropractic adjustment of a misaligned neck vertebra has been shown to significantly reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension, according to a pilot study by University of Chicago researchers.

The mean blood pressure of those who had the adjustment was 147 systolic before adjustment and 129.8 systolic after. The mean diastolic reading was 92.5 before adjustment and 82.3 after.

When the vertebra, known as the Atlas, or C1, was manipulated in 25 people with high blood pressure, both their systolic and diastolic readings decreased significantly, equal to taking two blood-pressure drugs at once.

Bringing Hypertension into Focus

“Almost everyone learns of their hypertension (high blood pressure) while getting a routine checkup. The point is, no one feels their pressure rising. The unfortunate truth is that since so many people are “stressed out” these days, a higher blood pressure is normal under those circumstances. In other words, when you are in a “fight-or-flight” environment, the body’s natural reaction is to raise blood pressure. Higher blood pressure is an appropriate body response in times of stress and is life-saving when there is a real threat.

“Your body is just not designed to live in that state for any extended period of time. We are rarely in that situation today but rather we create our own threats in our mind. The body doesn’t know the difference between a real and an imagined threat. So in response to an imagined threat, blood pressure rises just the same. Rather than ask which color pill will reduce your symptoms (and thereby ignore the cause), ask how you can increase your adaptability to stress. Chiropractic works.” – Dr. H

Reduced labor time by 24% for 1st time mothers and 30% for multiparous women.

The Daikow study (1991) followed 400 mothers who received chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy.

It was found that 84% of women experienced relief of back pain during labor.

1. Fallon J DC. The Effect of Chiropractic Treatment on Pregnancy and Labour: A Comprehensive Study. Proceedings of the World Federation of Chiropractic, 1991:24–31., Fallon J DC. Chiropractic and Pregnancy, a partnership of the future. ICA Review Nov/Dec 1990. (pg. 39–42)

Bringing Pregnancy & Chiropractic into Focus

“Women experience a progressive increase in the forward curve of the lumbar (low back) spine during pregnancy. This change, termed hyperlordosis, helps keep the belly back and the center of gravity stable and over the legs as the uterus enlarges. Late in pregnancy, aching, weakness, and numbness of the arms may occur secondary to the head and neck compensating as they move forward and the hunching of the shoulders in response to the hyperlordosis.

“In the absence of appropriate chiropractic care, these changes are more pronounced and often physically painful. You need not live that way. I have advanced training to adjust pregnant women and children, as well as a certification in the Webster technique. The Webster technique can be used at any time and it’s main benefit is to ensure that the women’s pelvis is properly aligned, thereby allowing the uterus freedom and the developing baby all the room it needs to turn into the proper birthing position.” – Dr.H